Delta smelt remains on edge of extinction, fall survey reveals

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The Delta smelt has not yet become extinct, but the numbers of fish collected in the fall 2016 midwater trawl survey conducted by the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) remain alarmingly low. This is in spite of improved precipitation … Continued

President Obama Signs Water Bill With Big Ag ‘Poison Pill’ Rider

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In a slap in the face to fishermen, Tribes, environmental justice advocates, conservationists and family farmers, President Barack Obama on December 16 signed the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act into law with its environmentally destructive Big Ag … Continued

Governor Jerry Brown Lauds Release of Documents for Delta Tunnels Water Grab

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California Governor Jerry Brown yesterday lauded the release of the “final” environmental documents for the controversial Delta Tunnels, a plan that fishermen, Tribal leaders, conservationists, family farmers and environmental justice advocates consider to be the most environmentally destructive public works project … Continued

President Obama, Please Veto The WRDA & California Drought Bill!

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The Water Resources Development Act, with its poison pill Big Ag rider sponsored by Senator Dianne Feinstein, passed the Senate on Friday, December 9. For the full details on the bill, go to: http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/12/10/1609636/-Congress-Approves-Water-Bill-With-Feinstein-s-Environmentally-Destructive-Rider Here is the latest action alert from Restore … Continued

Port Of West Sacramento Offers Stripers, Catfish And Black Bass

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The Port of West Sacramento played host to one of my strangest-ever fishing experiences, in terms of the surroundings. On one spring trip in the late 1980’s, I fished for catfish from shore in the port. Right across from where … Continued

Two top California water officials retire amidst growing opposition to Delta Tunnels

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Mark Cowin, the Director of the California Department of Water Resources (DWR), and Carl Torgersen, the DWR Chief Deputy Director, will be retiring from their positions at the embattled agency at the end of 2016. News of the two officials’ … Continued

Proposition that threatened Delta Tunnels defeated by a narrow margin

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On November 22, the California Secretary of State’s Office announced that the voters narrowly defeated Proposition 53, an initiative requiring voter approval of revenue bonds over $2 billion, by a narrow margin of 50.9 percent to 49.1 percent. Governor Jerry … Continued

77,000 Acres of Thirsty New CA Almond Orchards Planted Over Past Year

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California growers expanded water-intensive almond orchards by 77,000 acres over the past year, continuing the increase in new almond acreage during one of the worst droughts in the state’s history. The expansion in acreage for almonds, as well as for … Continued